Solar Power - the future of energy (Hey Brassmask, check it out!)

[Universe Prince]

Some days, seems like the world is becoming a dark, and insane place. And then there is this, and I think what wonderful possiblities are ahead for us. Here are some interesting (to me) excerpts from the Telegraph article on the future of solar power:

Within five years, solar power will be cheap enough to compete with carbon-generated electricity, even in Britain, Scandinavia or upper Siberia. In a decade, the cost may have fallen so dramatically that solar cells could undercut oil, gas, coal and nuclear power by up to half. Technology is leaping ahead of a stale political debate about fossil fuels.

[...]

The "tipping point" will arrive when the capital cost of solar power falls below $1 (51p) per watt, roughly the cost of carbon power. We are not there yet. The best options today vary from $3 to $4 per watt - down from $100 in the late 1970s. Mr Sethi believes his product will cut the cost to 80 cents per watt within five years, and 50 cents in a decade.

[...]

"We don't need subsidies, we just need governments to get out of the way and do no harm. They've spent $170bn subsidising nuclear power over the last thirty years," he said.

[...]

Villages across Asia and Africa that have never seen electricity may soon leapfrog directly into the solar age, replicating the jump to mobile phones seen in countries that never had a network of fixed lines. As a by-product, India's rural poor will stop blanketing the subcontinent with soot from tens of millions of open stoves.

Whole article at the other end of this link.

[Xavier_Onassis]

When do the Chinese, who can make everything for pennies, start making solar cells?

[kimba1]

I hope this is true
I`ve seen many claims like this ,but none pan out
remember cold fusion?
it`s kinda funny
we`ve made many technological leaps ,but power we`ve always sort of trickled
sometimes go backwards
people are starting to shun power usage ,for practical reasons
in many places the ultilities equal mortgage payments.